HBDM 85

Chapter 85

However, what came out of the headmaster’s mouth was something entirely unexpected.

“It seems the victims said something to Liam about him being a commoner.”

What?

“As a result, Liam went completely insane and beat them like a madman!”

“……”

Prina felt something was off.

Referring to people by social status?

Of course, a class system existed in the world she lived in, but things were somewhat different inside the academy.

Wasn’t the founding principle established by the first headmaster that students should maintain equal relationships regardless of status?

More than anything…

“But Liam is a commoner, isn’t he?”

Liam was not the type to get angry just because of such remarks. If anything, he would just look annoyed if someone tried to belittle his status.

“The poor injured students merely approached Liam out of goodwill, trying to befriend someone who is practically an orphan.”

To approach him as friends… while calling him a commoner?

The headmaster showed no intention of defending Liam at all. He was openly siding with the noble students.

But Prina couldn’t refute it.

Liam did hit them, at least…

It seemed best to speak with Liam first.

“Let me get to the point. The families of the victims have jointly filed a claim for ‘compensation.’”

“…Compensation?”

The intention was clear.

Inside the academy, equality was promoted, so punishing him purely for assaulting nobles was difficult.

In other words, if they couldn’t punish him by status, they would punish him with money.

And the amount would be enormous…

“100,000 gold.”

One… hundred thousand?

How much was that?

Strangely, the number felt familiar.

…Wasn’t that the estimated auction price of the pink diamond?

Insane.

Of course, the pink diamond had actually sold for 400,000 gold, but that fact offered no comfort.

And since she hadn’t even paid for it yet, she didn’t technically own it.

“However.”

At that moment, just as the back of Prina’s neck began to stiffen, the headmaster smiled slyly and slithered closer like a snake.

He placed his damp hand over the back of her hand resting on the table.

W-What?

“I was originally planning to recommend that Liam student be expelled today. But after meeting a guardian with such beautiful and kind eyes…”

“……”

“I feel that Liam still has potential.”

He grinned, massaging the back of her hand.

Disgusting.

When Prina tried to pull her hand away, he quickly continued.

“However, there is a condition. I would like to secretly assist in guiding Liam student’s development.”

He stood and then slid his hand across her thin shoulder.

“…What are you doing?”

Prina recoiled in shock.

“There’s no need to be so cautious. Are you unmarried?”

“Why are you asking—”

“Oh, I mean whether you’re a virgin.”

This man is insane!

The moment Prina tried to stand up—

She noticed the door slightly ajar.

When did—?

Her gaze slowly lifted.

Bright red hair and sharply glowing crimson eyes.

Eyes burning with fury were so terrifying and overwhelming that Prina couldn’t even breathe for a moment.

She barely managed to move her lips.

No. Don’t. Liam—

But it was already too late.

* * *

Everything escalated in an instant.

Liam kicked the door open and stormed in, grabbing the headmaster by the collar.

“L-Liam student! Are you out of your m—”

Thud!

Before he could finish speaking, Liam’s heavy fist slammed into his cheek without mercy.

“You bastard… what did you just say?”

Liam was physically far stronger than most boys his age and a swordsmanship prodigy.

With a single blow, the headmaster’s face split open as he staggered, eyes rolling back.

“You… you’ll regret—ugh!”

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Blow after blow rained down from Liam’s fists. With each strike, blood splattered across the room.

“Say that again.”

Prina should have stopped him immediately—but the overwhelming violence froze her in place.

“Why aren’t you talking? I told you to talk!”

Slap!

When Liam’s large hand struck the headmaster’s face again—

“Liam! Stop!”

Snapping back to her senses, Prina grabbed his bloodied forearm desperately. But he didn’t hear her at all.

Crash!

Liam threw the headmaster across the room.

“You filthy pig bastard. Do you have a death wish, acting like you don’t care who you’re dealing with?”

And then he began beating him again like a madman.

“L-Liam…! Please calm down!”

Even as Prina clung to him with all her strength, he didn’t budge.

“Ah!”

In the end, she was flung away, slamming into the desk.

Only then did Liam stop.

Prina lay on the floor, unable to move, her shoulder throbbing as if it might break.

“Liam Crowell! What is the meaning of this!”

“Seize that lunatic immediately!”

Knights rushed in after hearing the commotion and restrained Liam.

Even as he had been brutally beating the headmaster moments ago, Liam offered no resistance now.

He simply knelt in silence as they subdued him.

Through the open door, students gathered in the hallway to watch.

Among them…

A familiar red-haired girl stood with a pale face.

…Cecilia.

Prina turned her gaze back to Liam, now restrained by the knights.

Her chest ached seeing him in such a pitiful state.

She understood why he had done it.

It wasn’t right—but he was her brother.

But… she couldn’t help him here.

“You insolent brat! You’re expelled!”

The headmaster, now recovered enough to speak, screamed furiously.

Prina felt her mind go blank.

* * *

She could barely remember how she left the academy.

Liam’s lips were split and bleeding from being restrained.

Only after confirming he would not resist did the knights release him.

“You will be expelled no matter what I have to do!”

“I will convene the council and make it happen! Someone like you needs to be taught a lesson!”

The headmaster’s voice followed them as they left the academy, echoing in Prina’s ears.

It sounded like he intended to convene a disciplinary committee soon and expel Liam.

Prina felt overwhelmed.

Liam, on the other hand, looked indifferent.

“Do whatever you want.”

“You brat—you think you can act like this because you’re young? Who would take in a delinquent expelled from Kellios?”

“Plenty of people would come begging to take me in.”

Liam scoffed and tugged on Prina’s clothes.

“Let’s go.”

“….”

“I said let’s go.”

In the end, Prina was dragged out of the academy with him.

Her head throbbed.

Everything had gone horribly wrong.

100,000 gold compensation… and now possibly expulsion?

“Liam, let’s talk.”

Prina called out to her brother.

But Liam didn’t stop.

He ignored her and kept walking.

“Liam Crowell, talk to your sister.”

“I have nothing to say.”

“….”

He had always been difficult, but adolescence made it worse—far worse.

“You’re suspended, you know?”

“I know.”

“So shouldn’t we talk this through and resolve it?”

“I’ll handle it myself. You don’t need to worry.”

You’ll handle it?

How?

The 100,000 gold?

The pink diamond compensation?

You? Please.

“Hm. I heard you assaulted three high-ranking nobles. Is that true?”

“It’s true.”

I see…

“Why did you hit them?”

“……”

Liam didn’t answer.

“Hey, walk slower.”

He was walking too fast. If she relaxed even a little, Prina would be left behind.

She looked at his legs. Their speeds were similar—but his longer stride made it impossible for her to keep up.

When did his legs get that long?

Liam had entered the academy four years ago at age thirteen.

Back then, he had been smaller than her…

He had really grown.

Haah… I really can’t keep up anymore.

Even Liam at ten had been hard to manage—this was something else entirely.

It felt like he was truly beyond her reach now.

Still, she had to figure something out.

…But one thing kept bothering her.

“The family Liam injured—do you know how important they are? It’s Somerset!”

…Somerset.

Prina’s eyes darkened.

Somerset was the closest branch family of Orbanon.

And Liam and Cecilia knew nothing about it.

They didn’t know their mother had once been a concubine of Marquis Orbanon…

Or that Prina herself was an illegitimate child of Orbanon.

A truth she had hidden until now.